Dermopathic instrument



J. PIRMENICH.

DERMOPATHIG INSTRUMENT.

Nor 34,677.A Patented Mar. 18, 1862..

dwsses Y Zweaozf UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH FLRMENIGH, kOF BUFFALO, NEW YORK'.

DERllIO-PATHIC INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 34,677',.dated' March 118, 1862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH FIR-MENICH, of the city of Buffalo and Sta-teof New York, have invented a new and Improved Dermopathic Instrument forthe Treatment of Diseases by Acting upon the Skin; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe construction and opera-tion of the same, refer ence being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is an elevation of my improvedinstrument-its cap being downward and in position to operate upon thepatient. Fig. H is an elevation-the cap being removed and placed above,in order to show more clearly the neck of the instrument and theposition of the needles, before the leather cover is put on. Fig. III isa longitudinal section of the instrument (inverted).

The nature of my invention relates to the construction and use of adermopathic instrument in such manner that the puncturing needles shallbe in contact with the medicinal preparation, so that the skin of thepatientmay be punctured and the medicine infused into the punctures atone and the same operation.

Letters of like manner and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

A, represents the containing cylinder or main body of the instrument,made of wood or other suitable material.- It is about three inches inlength, and one inch and one-eighth in diameter (more -or less). Ahandle is formed on one end, as shown at a, its opposite end or mouthbeing open.

B, represents the puncturing needles, projecting from the circular headpiece b, and C, represents a screw rod, which connects with, or screwsinto the circular head piece as shown, and also screws into the head, orhandle part of the cylinder, as shownforming a water tight fit therein,and a support for the needles. It is of sufficient length. to allow theneedles to project through the neck b2 of the cylinder as shown in F ig.II. A suflicient space is left in the cylinder and around the screw rodfor the reception of the medicinal preparation, which is put therein,when the instrument is used.

D, represents a piece of buckskin or other suit-able material, whichcovers the points of the needles and holds the medicine in the cylinder(except so much thereof as follows the needles into the skin). It ,istied down to the neck, b2, of the cylinder, by a cord or thread, orotherwise fastened thereto.

E, is a piece of oil silk, or other thin material which is impervious towater. It has a circular hole cut through it, a little larger indiameter than the circle formed by the needles, so asto allow theneedles to pass without puncturing the silk. This oil silk is placed onthe outside of the leather, and is tied down to the neck of the cylinderwith the leather. It will prevent the medicine from coming in contactwith 'the skin except wit-hin the circle of the needles.

F shows an elastic spring of india rubber or other suitable material,made in the form of a ring. It rests upon the neck (b2) of the cylinder,and surrounds the needles. As a spring it serves to graduate the depthof the punctures. The greater the pressure upon the instrument, the morethe rubber spring will yield, and hence, the deeper the needles willpenetrate the skin.

G, is a cylindrical cap, which slides easily over the cylinder A. It hastwo small eyes, g, which connect it to the spiral spring H. K

H, is a spiral spring, which is coiled around the cylinder A, restingupon a shoulder on said cylinder as shown at c2, and connects with thecap G, through the eyes g. This spring will keep the cap G, extendedabove the needles, so that the cap will protect the needles when theinstrumentis not in use, and will also immediately react in a manner toseparatethe needles from the skin, after the punctures are made, and thepressure of the hand removed.

Operation: The medicine used is an irritant and in the form of a liquid.This is put into the cylinder A, in contact with the needles. Theoperator then places the open end of the cap G, on the skin of thepatient, on that part of the body which it is desirable to operate upon.The operator then gently and quickly presses down upon the instrumentwith his hand. The spiral spring H will yield to the pressure, and allowthe cylinder A, to pass through the cap G, sufliciently far to allow theneedles to penetrate the skin. The points, of the needles projectthrough the leather cover, and carry with them a portion of themedicinal preparation, which will be equally diffused into the puncturesin the skin made medicine from spreading on the skin, bc-

yond the circle of the needles. Thus there is no Waste of medicinebeyond the circle of the punctures and the distribution of the medicineinto the punctures is more equal and uniform, and more certain andVactive in its effects, than under the old methods.

In the course of my practice as a physi-V cian I have used thisinstrument With success in a great Variety of diseases.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-A dermopathic instrument constructed substantially as describedyhaving acylinder or cup which contains the puncturing needles, and a medicinalpreparation in ,contactwith the needles;so that the skin of the patientmay be punctured and the medicine infused at one operation of theinstrument as set forth.

JOSEPH FiRMENioH.

IVitnesses: i

E. B. FoRBUsH, B. H. MEALY.

